Photo Hiking Journal

Yosemite - Sentinel Dome 8/2/03

This trip to Yosemite was to hang glide off Glacier Point, but we got rained out the first day. Since we couldn't fly on the first day, Helen and I checked out some of the valley and hiked to the top of Sentinel Dome.

We arrived at the park's south entrance after about a five hour drive. I been to valley twice before, but this will be the first time hang gliding there. The plan was to meet a group of friends at the campground and fly off of Glacier Point Saturday and Sunday morning. Photo by Helen

At the Bridalveil Creek Campground on the Glacier Point Rd. When we got to the campground all the campsites were taken. Some pilots from the bay area offered to share their site with us.

Me with some of the folks from the bay area that we stayed with the first night. Photo by Helen

A meadow near the campground. While I was talking about flying stuff, Helen went exploring beyond the campground and found this flower filled meadow. Photo by Helen

More flowers. Photo by Helen

This is driving through the campground Saturday morning. This was to be our first day to fly. Due to the rain, we needed to come up with something else to do. Photo by Helen

We drove up to Glacier Point to check out view and lauch site. This is a view of Half Dome from inside the stone hut. We hung out here to stay out of the rain while talking to other pilots that were there.

We drove back to Washburn Point so we could have breakfast with a view. It was still raining, so we cooked and ate in the truck.

Joe (me) cooking breakfast in the back of the truck. We had the widow partly opened to vent the fumes from the stove. Photo by Helen

Helen and I at Washburn Point. By the time we finished eating the rain almost stopped. We took some photos before driving down into the valley.

Half Dome with Nevada Falls (upper) and Vernal Falls (lower).

Zoomed in on the falls. Nevada Falls is about 600' tall and Vernal Falls is 320'.

A view to the southeast from the point.

While driving down to the valley on the Glacier Point Rd, a bird dove in front of the truck. We didn't see it fly out the other side. I pulled over expecting to find it stuck in the grill, but all that was there were a few feathers on the bumper.

Just about to exit the tunnel that leads into the valley. Photo by Helen

A shot of the valley from the tunnel view turn off. You can see Bridalveil Falls on the right.

Bridalveil Falls from the parking lot.

Bridalveil Creek below the falls.

After a short hike we reached the falls. We wanted to climb to the base of the falls, but it was starting to rain again and we left our raingear in the truck.

After the falls, we drove to Sentinel Beach to check out the Merced River. It just started to rain again when we got to the river. Brought the raingear this time. These ducks were swimming up river.

This guy came right to us. It's was starting to rain harder now.

The duck must have been looking for a hand out, it showed no fear. We left this guy in the rain and went to check out Leidig Meadow. That will be our landing zone (LZ) if we get to fly tomorrow.

This is looking at Yosemite Falls from the Swinging Bridge that leads to Leidig Meadow.

The meadow is just beyond the bike path. Ten minutes ago it was raining, now the sun is out. Rained on and off most of the day. Photo by Helen

The meadow had tall wet grass and some wet spots. We walked around in the meadow for about half an hour checking things out.

A butterfly

Helen out in the meadow.

This bug is over an inch long.

Another shot of Yosemite Falls from the meadow. This place will make a great LZ, it will be cool landing here.

I many be wrong, but these guys look like reindeer. They were feeding just off the road. Photo by Helen

The long tunnel that leads out of the valley. After spending a few hours in the valley , we decided to head back up to our campground just off the Glacier Point Road. Photo by Helen

New camp site for the night. When we arrived back to the campground, there was an empty campsite surrounded by friends of mine. So we moved in. Photo by Helen

On the trail to Sentinel Dome. After getting the new campsite, we did the short hike to Sentinel Dome to check out the view and kill some time before dinner. It started raining again soon as we hit the trail.

Helen found this heart shaped rock on the trail. Photo by Helen

The rain stopped as we approached the dome.

Almost to the base of the dome.

This shot is from the base of the dome.

Making our way up the side of the dome, this was the fun part of the hike.

Helen and the three dead trees

On the summit of Sentinel Dome 8,122'. This is the skeletal remains of the Jeffrey pine that Ansel Adams frequently photographed.

Another view of the summit tree.

Here we are on the summit with Ansel's Jeffrey pine. A few months after this photo was taken, this tree fell over.

These guys were running around looking for food from the hikers. A small boy was bitten feeding one of them. Photo by Helen

This locator thing-of-abob made it easy to pick out the landmarks in the area. Half Dome in the background. Photo by Helen

The landmark locator thing

Yosemite Falls across the valley.

Looking down the valley at Cathedral Rocks and El Capitan.

While hiking down we came arcoss this deer just off the trail. About ten minutes later it started raining really hard, good thing for raingear. Starting to get late, time to get back to camp and make dinner.